Maryann wants her pictures back

[Dave48838]

Hello,

I had a Toshiba MK4032GAX come in the other day. The computer was posting but no OS was found. I pulled the HD, hooked it up via USB to my computer and I get these sounds http://www.cybersspot.com/maryann.wma. (if you don't want to download it off my website, tell me where to upload it to) this forum won't let me upload wma files.

When I plug it in, nothing pops up on my computer, when I unplug it, it tells me that G & H need to be formatted.

While looking at Computer Management, it shows up as Disk 2 37.26 GB partitioned as 34.18 GB & 3.07 GB. This tells me it is reading something.

What do you have for a diagnosis from the info I gave you and or what more info do you need for a proper diagnosis?

Just a shot in the dark, I tried r-studio, but it just hung there as well.

Dave

[harddrivespecialist]

Could be a lot of bad sectors or a scratch on a platter

[jono-ats]

These often have bad bearings and make strange sounds during operation.

[Dave48838]

Bad sectors, possibly, but I've had drives with tons of bad sectors and I could still see them.

A scratch on the platters, possibly, this would damage a head, I have no experience with scratches (that I know of).

Bad bearings, wouldn't that make a grinding scratching sound? it sounds healthy other than it's not retrieving the data.

I understand that this is beyond my current ability to repair, I'm just trying to get answers for my client by giving you all the info I can and any you ask for to make a good diagnosis.

Dave

[Vulcan]

While looking at Computer Management, it shows up as Disk 2 37.26 GB partitioned as 34.18 GB & 3.07 GB. This tells me it is reading something.

Indeed - the partition table at least is readable. The other symptoms suggest that other vital parts of the filesystems are not readable (within the limits of Windows retries).

What do you have for a diagnosis from the info I gave you and or what more info do you need for a proper diagnosis?

If the data is important to the customer, why not ship it to a recomended pro for a free diagnosis, and let your customer decide whether or not it's worth whatever their quote is?

DIY recovery attempts, while possible, do carry risks of you making things worse, which your customer may not want you to take.

Just a shot in the dark, I tried r-studio, but it just hung there as well.

That's not uncommon for many utilities, when you're trying to recover directly from a disk which is having significant problems reading the data. I would never try to use such a utility on a faulty disk; only on one limited to logical problems.

Finally, just to address one of your new points you've made while I've been typing this:

Bad sectors, possibly, but I've had drives with tons of bad sectors and I could still see them.

I guess you mean that in your previous examples, you could "see them" in My Computer? If the filesystem isn't readable, then the relevant drive letter will not appear in My Computer, hence why I'm saying that the problems with that disk are affecting the ability to read the filesystem metadata, even though the partition table is readable.

It all depends which sectors are unreadable...

[Dave48838]

Vulcan,

Very informative, very clear. I thank you for your time.

You mentioned DR companies that give free estimates, who would you recommend in the States/Canada for this?

Thanks again for your time,
Dave

[laptokowiec]

There's nothing to repair.
You just have to make the clone of it.
Use DMDE, HDClone or linux DD.

[Vulcan]

@Dave48838:

Since this is a customer's disk, and we therefore don't know their risk assessment of the potential risks of DIY, I politely disagree with the suggestion of laptokowiec for you to go ahead with trying to clone the disk yourself - but it's your decision and your risk that you might have to explain to the customer (or they might find out) that you chose the cheap option and lost their data permanently (in the worst case).

Of course DIY recovery attempts are possible, but without getting the customer's view of the value of their data and the potential consequences to them if it isn't recovered, then it seems risky for you to go ahead with a DIY approach instead of using a pro, given how litigious US consumers can be - as I said in my first comment. But it's your choice.

Since I'm not a consumer of US-based DR services, and I work in a different part of the data storage industry rather than DR, I don't have personal DR experience on which to recommend US-based pros. I was rather hoping that US-based pros would add their comments for this part... However, from what I've seen in their replies on this forum over the years, you could certainly start by approaching the 2 US-based members who replied to this thread so far, to see if either is willing to take on this job - they would be on my list, if I needed someone.

@laptokowiec:

Did you really mean to suggest using dd to clone a disk with reported unreadable sectors? I guess that perhaps you meant to suggest ddrescue (which I would have mentioned at the start of this thread, if we were sure that the end customer was aware of the potential risks ) because of all its advantages over just using dd, in this type of situation?

[Dave48838]

I am still waiting for the customer to get back with me as to what she wants me to do. I did state "I understand that this is beyond my current ability to repair", hence, I am done at this time.
Vulcan, as far as what laptokowiec or when anybody tells me to do something on this forum when looking for advice or direction, I look at 3 things:

1: The number of posts they have
2: The quality of info they put out
3: Common sense

It sort of goes with a quote Buddha once made, "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."

[BlackST]

1: The number of posts they have
2: The quality of info they put out
3: Common sense

You forgot there is a hidden 4: called "LIBERO ARBITRIO" (freedom of choice).

No quality of info put out or post count can counterbalance your intentions if you are still convinced to do something.
Usually people have in mind one thing and they NEED only a lot of confirmation - when things go wrong because of Murphy's law or simply their idea was wrong, they cry.
It is different if the discussion is between pros with each one given of tools, K-H, experience and everything else, and there's no biasing as it is assumed and known that the pro knows his stuff and have no fear of taking his responsibilities regarding customer data.
In other words, when it's necessary to see something with more than 2 eyes but each individual is in a safe zone and knows / have what it takes, it's good, otherwise it's playing russian roulette.
If it was for me, I wouldn't do anything on a failing drive before having the complete firmware backed up (it takes a HW diagnostic) and drive health assessment done.
Would be easy to say "do this and that" and disappear but it's not fair neither healthy for customer data.
By the way, if you get paid for your work you have to assume the related risks or (reversing the parts) if you use expensive tools and procedures to make everything safer to the maximum you reverse your costs and professionality to the customer as it is supposed to be.
If they want you to try the cheapest way, leave all responsibility to the customers (do something for this), otherwise if thing go OK it's good, if things go wrong you get only the troubles especially if data HAS a value. It's only you who can decide if it's worth it.
The procedures used in the lab for CLONING include also a study of the correct strategy (case from case) for getting the most possible of the data SAFELY , and configure the drive in order to avoid some problems. Plus a lot of other tricks that will die with me .
In a nutshell, either you are authorized to pursue the cheapest way (at customer's risk !!) , or you have to work it out the right solution by yourself (at your risk), OR (latest, safest, quickest but probably unwanted by you), OUTSOURCE.

Is this opinion eligible for an helluva of criticism ??

[Dave48838]

BlackST, Why should I have to press 1 for English?

One word, I guess I can look it up being that it is right at my fingertips.

I do agree, freedom of choice can be thrown in there, but I don't feel like modifying this list till everyone is happy. If you look at the number of posts I have, only 2 didgets worth, you shouldn't take my advice to heart, use some 'common sense'.

[BlackST]

BlackST, Why should I have to press 1 for English?

One word, I guess I can look it up being that it is right at my fingertips.

I do agree, freedom of choice can be thrown in there, but I don't feel like modifying this list till everyone is happy. If you look at the number of posts I have, only 2 didgets worth, you shouldn't take my advice to heart, use some 'common sense'.

2 or 5 or 6 digits for post count doesn't matter and is not a discriminant , I posted just my 2 (euro)cents. I hope the entire thing go OK .

[fzabkar]

when anybody tells me to do something on this forum when looking for advice or direction, I look at 3 things:

1: The number of posts they have
2: The quality of info they put out
3: Common sense

You could combine 1 & 2 and call it a signal-to-noise ratio. As the saying goes, empty vessels make the most sound ...

[jono-ats]

The only thing clear from the sound sample is that the drive is having trouble reading.

Bad bearings often roar, or lock up with a sharp squeak.

You might have bad heads. But just "playing the odds" we see many old Toshibas with bearing or lubrication failure. Sometimes the bearings fail in a way that the drive doesn't come up to full speed, and you get read errors.

Try placing the drive in various positions, like straight up. If you notice a change -- i.e. it can read -- then you've got a bearing issue. This isn't a definitive test, but seems to work in the majority of cases.

[Dave48838]

The only thing clear from the sound sample is that the drive is having trouble reading.

Bad bearings often roar, or lock up with a sharp squeak.

You might have bad heads. But just "playing the odds" we see many old Toshibas with bearing or lubrication failure. Sometimes the bearings fail in a way that the drive doesn't come up to full speed, and you get read errors.

Try placing the drive in various positions, like straight up. If you notice a change -- i.e. it can read -- then you've got a bearing issue. This isn't a definitive test, but seems to work in the majority of cases.

I will give it a try today and let you know. 'majority' sounds promising, but I'm not holding my breath

[Dave48838]

SUCCESS!!!

I flipped the HD PCB up (as to rubber side up in a car) and I was able to recover everything. During the recovery it did make that sound and paused during the transfer, but it started going again about 45 seconds later. Thanks so much for the out of the box thinking.

MaryAnn is going to get 18gb of her pics back and I'm sure she thanks all of you for your help, espically you jono-ats.

[DrFaustus]

good call on tilting the drive

[Bjerringbro]

I had originally thought the bad bearings bit was a bit of a stretch. Torc Massage. Sometimes you have to show some love.